Kro slowly opens his eyes and smiles. Out of all the heavenly bodies in space, his favorite is the one in his arms.

His mind does a quick self-analysis and finds no lingering pain. As he does this, he processes everything that led him to this point.

To think I would be right here with an Eternal. No, the love of my life.

Ba-dump. Ba-dump.

His heart beats against its chambers as he pulls her closer to him. He sees her mouth form a smile from what he did. He takes his fingers and softly traces them from the top of her head down to her hip. Her body twitches against his. He suppresses his urges to enjoy the fun.

He does it again. A soft moan escapes her mouth. He goes to do it again, but she softly grabs his hand to kiss it.

She turns around to face him. "You're healed, handsome?"

"I don't feel any pain, goddess."

She strokes his black goatee. "How about we make Ashirem furious at us?"

"What do you have in mind?", he playfully growls.

She laughs without a filter. Hearing that is one of the sweetest sounds he ever heard.

Kro clears his throat to get serious. "Before we start, can you get pregnant?"

"Our creator didn't program us with that function. If I had it, I would continue your race. I'm so sorry", she explains with shaking pupils and a frown.

He sits up with her.

"We...can always adopt a child or children if you want more. I don't mind whatever species we come across. I just want to be with you and no one else. I love your bold attitude, your plump lips, emerald eyes, silky blonde-"

She sucks the air out of his mouth which makes his eyes widen. She exhales out of his mouth and pushes him down. With one hand she pushes the button and closes the window. With the other hand, she pins his arms behind his head.

"I want you to show me", she softly commands him.

She quickly tears his shirt apart, revealing his chiseled chest. She runs her nails down his body. The Deviant exhales as she kisses his chest while touching him. He could only take so much before he turns her on her back. Peppering her face with multiple kisses and staying on her neck. Her nails digging into his back.

She then throws him off to get out of bed.

His eyes widened to see her strip before him. Clothed or naked, her body is a work of art. He intends to appreciate every inch of her. He strips down as well and they cut through the sexual tension that was building between them. Sweet moans and low growls accompany the weapons in the room.

"You can- ah- growl louder. They won't hear you!", while riding him.

He obliges as he turns her over to take control. She drags her nails across his back as he increases the tempo and power. He lets out an exploding roar. Thena's kisses encourage him to keep going. She later lets out a pleasurable scream as her toes curl. They let their urges take over.....

Claw marks on the bed sheets; pillows not in their usual place; scratches that have healed on Kro's back. They lose track of time, but it finishes with Kro cuddling her sweaty body on top of him. Thena lifts her head to kiss him deeply. He sees her green eyes sparkle from the love she has for him.

He traces circles into her cheeks with his thumbs. "You're right. Ashirem would be furious with us."

"Like you care", as she strokes his goatee.

"I would rub it in his face, but I want this to stay between us. I'm looking forward to an eternity with you."

"As do I", she smiles.

She lays her head on his chest before drifting off. His mind settles from the long day. He wonders what will happen if he faces Ashirem again. One thing is for sure, he will stay alive to continue his new life with Thena. He finally falls asleep with peace of what he wants.

---

The next day, he wakes up from kisses on his face. He smiles from seeing his beloved. "Morning."

Tongues dance with murmurs as their roommates.

She holds his head in place. "I guess that's your way of saying good morning."

"It is now. How about a shower together?", he suggests.

"So you can get dirty again?", while rolling her eyes.

"Maybe."

After a "clean" shower, they get dressed. She gives him some dark red clothes that include a collared vest with matching pants and boots. After putting it all together, he looks in the reflection. He smiles from ear to ear that this outfit suits him well.

"Let's eat", Thena states.

He nods with a grumbling stomach. She leans her head on his arm as they walk to the kitchen. They find Makarri eating a bowl of puffy cereal. She looks up and waves hi to them.

"What would you like, Thena?"

"How about a ham omelet with toast?"

"Your wish is my command. Would you like anything, Makarri?"

He looks back for her response, but she's no longer there.

"I'm sorry, honey."

"It's understandable. I'm still a Deviant at my core. Just give her time."

She latches onto him from behind. "You're the best!"

"I feel the same way about you."

After eating breakfast, he makes an extra helping for Druig and Makarri when they get hungry. He covers the skillet and puts it in the fridge.

He and Thena then train together to get themselves ready to face Ashirem. He is careful not to even scratch her as he evades her daggers, spear, and shield.

"Don't hold back! Pretend I'm Ashirem!"

He blocks her spear with his enhanced skin and wrestles her to the ground.

"I don't know. Ashirem looks too beautiful to attack."

She blushes as she turns him over for another "round."

Still traveling through space, Kro keeps cooking meals for the four of them. Thena has several helpings of his great cooking, but Druig and Makarri don't even touch them. He eats the uneaten portions and doesn't bring it up.

They walk while holding hands and see the couple. The speedster Eternal is holding a bouquet of pink tulips.

"Going on a date?", she asks.

"I made some dinner if you want to join us", Kro offers.

"Oh, let it go, Thena."

They brisk past them without acknowledging his presence.

Thena stops walking. Kro can feel her heart racing and sees her lips pouting and eyebrows pulled together.

He strokes her arm. "It's okay, my love."

His foot taps after saying that. Her heart partially breaks for the pain he's hiding inside. She strokes his black goatee and pulls him down for a tender kiss. Her eyes give him the encouragement that he needed....

A few days pass as they go through space. Kro checks the fridge and sees the skillet has been untouched. He doesn't mind. He will keep giving them chances to trust him.

His beloved has had enough. She goes directly to Makarri's room. The speedster hears her quick steps as she's reading a book on her chair. Thena communicates with sign language so Kro can't hear the building anger in her voice.

"What gives?!"

Makarri signs back. "What do you-"

"No! How dare you and Druig treat Kro like this?! You make every chance to avoid being in the same room as him and you refuse to eat any of his meals. He hasn't poisoned me and won't do that to you!", she vents while fighting back the tears welling up in her eyes.

Makarri pushes her long braided hair back. "He reduced our family down."

"And what about Ikaris? He led Ajak to her death. Kro is not like his past self."

"I can't believe you fell in love with him after what-"

The goddess stomps her foot. "Don't remind me! I will not let his past determine how I feel about him. He's warm to me like a blanket. Don't you feel that way about Druig? He's off putting, but you care about him."

Makarri shakes her head. "Don't compare him to that thing."

The speedster expresses shock from her rude words. "I'm so sorry, Thena. I didn't-"

She stops. Thena stares off in the distance with white eyes and spear in her hands. Makarri dodges an attempt on her life!

The speedster gently touches her which pushes her against the wall. Makarri restrains her arms with a blanket. She tries to calm her down, but Thena materializes daggers to cut herself free. She then plunges a dagger into an escaping Makarri's leg. She mouths out in pain.

Thena turns her over to plunge the next blade into her heart.

Druig pushes her off and tries to jump into Thena's mind to calm her down. The Mahd Wr'ry made it too chaotic for him to enter. She thrusts her spear. Druig pushes Makarri out of the way. Kro grabs the tip of her spear to their surprise. His black blood drips to the floor as she tries to push the spear forward.

"Thena, it's okay. You are safe. I still love you, Mahd Wr'ry or not. I will not abandon you. Remember who you are, my goddess of war."

Thena breathes heavily with white glazed eyes returning to green. The spear disappears. Kro's palm heals over. Kro goes to attend to Makarri's wound but Druig stands in his way.

"Will you let me heal her or let it get infected?"

Druig exhales and steps aside. His eyes tell Makarri to trust him. With a glowing hand, the wound and pain vanishes. She finds she is able to stand up with no hindrance.

Thena breaks down into tears from what she almost did. Kro pulls her in for a deep embrace.

"I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!"

"Everyone's okay."

Her wails of frustration fill up the ship. Her lover doesn't let go of her, not even for a moment. Thena's body shudders when she was done.

"It's okay to feel angry. Channel that towards Ashirem. He's the one to blame for putting you through those resets. We will rescue the others and defeat him. He won't hurt anyone else."

He lifts her face. She opens her eyes to see his calming midnight black eyes looking back at her. She closes her eyes, feeling unworthy of his kindness. He gently scoops her up which makes her open her eyes.

"I will always love you no matter what happens."

She tightly wraps her arms around his neck as they leave the room.

Druig hugs Makarri. "I'm glad you're okay."

She signs something to him and he agrees to her idea...

Kro places Thena on their bed. He wraps a new blanket around her torso. A soft kiss on her head while stroking her arm. She rests her head onto his lap where he brushes through her hair.

"When will I be healed of this?", she asks with doubt in her tone.

"I will beat a cure out of Ashirem if he knows it. I will let you join in as well."

A light chuckle comes out of her mouth. The sound of her light snoring gives him peace. A knock on the door grabs his attention. He quickly shifts a pillow under her head and opens the door.

Makarri and Druig are there. They see their family member is sleeping. They lead him away to talk privately.

Makarri starts. "I'm so sorry for how I treated you. Thanks for healing me."

Durig sighs. "And I'm sorry too. You saved our lives back there."

"I would do it again. How does it feel being saved by a Deviant again?"

"Oh, don't you do that!", Druig lightly chuckles.

"I have plenty of mileage with that card. I will pull it until you save me."

"Deal. It will be worth it to shut your mouth, Kro."

Makarri smiles that the two are getting along.

"I'm not expecting a big kumbaya from this. Let's get along for her sake."

Makarri signs. "We will."

"How do we start?", Druig asks.

"How about eating the Chinese noodles I cooked up?", he asks while crossing his arms.

"So be it. I would be surprised if there isn't any poison."

Makarri hits him in the shoulder while Kro heartily laughs. Druig and her heat up the shrimp lo mein noodles and eat. Makarri couldn't get enough of it as she has bowl after bowl of it. Druig expresses contentment from the savory flavors.

Kro also eats with them. They hear footsteps and see Thena is up with the blanket around her. She chokes back tears from seeing them like this.

"Come and eat with us."

She clears her throat and hugs Makarri. She hugs her back. She then pats Druig on the back as she takes a seat next to her beloved. They will enjoy these moments and many more when the family is reunited.

---

One day, Kro and the others are at the helm until they all feel a disturbance coming from the corridor. They each get ready for what's to come. Kro has his laser vision ready to blast the threat.

A brief rainbow portal opens and out jumped a small figure with a green vest and red hair connected to his matching beard. Kro's eyes stop glowing as the group is confused by this stranger's presence. The troll-like figure staggers around while spilling alcohol from his chalice.

He laughs jovially. "Wow! Aah! My ears. My eyes are numb. No more drunk teleporting for you."

"Hang on just a second."

He clears his throat and imitates trumpets as the portal reopens. Another figure steps out and walks towards them.

"Behold, the royal prince of Titan, brother of Thanos, the Knave of Hearts, defeater-"

Makarri quickly signs. "Thanos' brother?"

The troll continues. "of Black Robert-

"Roger", the figure corrects.

"Defeater of Black Roger. The great adventurer, Starfox of Mystery Planet!"

The group gets a better look at him as he steps into the light. His silver breastplate is marked with strains of gold that went well with his red cape and outfit. He bows while adjusting his coife brown hair.

"What a pleasure to make your acquaintance, my fellow Eternals. Pip, you know you don't have to do that whole thing every time."

"Well, everything you do is impressi-"

The troll stops as Kro's eyes glow again with intensity. His tentacles threateningly sway left to right. Thena has her spear ready. Makarri is gearing up for a fight to protect her Deviant friend. Druig's eyes have a golden flare to them.

Starfox raises his hands. "No need for the hostility."

"I won't let you hurt him", as her emerald eyes seek to take their lives.

"Who are you and why are you here?", the Deviant growls.

"A Deviant allied himself with you?", he asks with raised eyebrows.

"He is my lover", Thena clarifies.

"I would have never expected this. This is...so great!"

There is no sarcasm in what he said. He's smiling happily. "Are you the same Deviant that helped stop Tiamut's emergence?"

"I am." How did he know that?

"You are quite famous in your own way. You and I are going to get along splendidly! Starfox is just a nickname Pip came up with. My real name is Eros and I want to help you find the family members that Ashirem took from you."

The group slowly lowers their weapons. Kro's eyes return to their black color.

"Why are you helping me? Aren't you-"

"Supposed to stop you? I admit that that was my duty, but I changed my mind when I found out the truth. To me, a Celestial isn't worth sacrificing billions of innocent lives."

The group glances at each other. Another Eternal who's against their creator's wishes?

"Wait. How did you find out about Kro helping us?", Thena asks.

"News spreads quickly in this vast space. Might I add that you both are a dashing couple. Kro, you are not alone out here. You can inspire other Deviants I know to join you against Ashirem and our creators."

His tentacles retract as he processes his last sentence. His body trembles now knowing he's not the only Deviant out there. Thena embraces him lovingly.

Makarri smiles from ear to ear. Druig briefly smiles.

"I also bring some good news. I know where your friends are and they are in trouble."

A golden orb floats above the palm of Eros' hand.

The new Eternal tells them where they are. During this, Kro and Thena hold hands and give each other a firm squeeze. Their creator will rue the day that he caused them pain. They don't know what else to expect, but they will tackle it together.

***Thanks for reading this mini-series! We don't know yet what to expect from the MCU, but I hope you liked reading my inclusion of Kro into that universe. I always felt he was under-utilized based on some of the research I went through. You are free to take this story in any direction you decide. Have fun writing!